PIX #4 - Remember that red and gold sign? This is a standard
old-time Woolworth's doorway

PIX #5 - Woolworth's first successful store in Lancaster,
Pa., as it appeared in 1881. Photo used by permission.

One hundred years ago a man by the name of Frank Winfield
Woolworth started a store in Utica, N.Y., and called it the "Great Five
Cent Store". That was the beginning of what eventually became the F.W.
Woolworth chain of stores that spread around the world and became more
commonly known as the "Five Cent and Ten Cent Store". Nothing sold for
more than 10 cents.

This year, when F.W. Woolworth Co. is celebrating its
100th Anniversary it has significance for many Fostorians who remember
the Woolworth Store here... even though it ceased to operate in 1956.
It will be remembered as being located in the Botto Block, where the
Family Store is now.

FOSTORIAN WENT FAR WITH WOOLWORTH'S

Further significance of the anniversary for some Fostorians
is the fact that Dean C. Eger, who grew up here and became associated
with Woolworth when a young man, made that his lifetime connection,
and finally became executive buyer in their New York office. He retired
in 1962.

While attending Fostoria High School, Eger started to
work at the local Woolworth Store, before and after school, on Saturday
and during vacations.

He recalls that each morning his first duty was to take
a pail and go across Main Street to the "town pump" and get water for
the employees to drink. That "town pump" was the one that stood near
the curb in front of the Fakalos place of business and will be remembered
by many readers. The pail of water was placed on a shelf in the basement
of the store; a tin dipper hung on a nail near the pail for drinking
purposes.

WOOLWORTH HAD MANY DIFFICULTIES AT START

Frank Winfield Woolworth had an exceedingly difficult
time in his early life, a curcumstance which probably contributed to
his persistence and will to succeed. His first employers even thought
he was not intelligent enough to wait on customers and he wound up washing
windows, delivering, sweeping and doing other menial jobs. He even worked
for a time without pay, just to get experience. Later he worked 15 hours
a day for 50 cents...not 50 cents per hour, but 50 cents per day. Imagine
that!

His early work experience brought on a nervous breakdown
and he went home to his parents, near Watertown, N.Y., to be nursed
back to health by his loving mother, who convinced him he would succeed
and become rich some day.

When he was well again he borrowed $300 and opened a store
of this own, in Watertown. Very simply, he laid his merchandise out
on tables, pricing it at not more than 10 cents...much of it for five
cents.

His first three stores failed, but on his fourth try he
found the secret for merchandising, and he made $2.50 the first week.
He opened 12 more stores that year and continued to grow into the nationwide
chain...the first of its kind...and eventually worldwide.

The two secrets that spelled success for Woolworth were:
the importance of a good location, and the need for a variety of merchandise.

FOSTORIA STORE STARTED IN 1916

When F.W. Woolworth Company decided to open a store in
Fostoria it was 1916. The first manager was Ray V. Nicholson. Our town
was booming. On Saturdays especially in the evening, it was difficult
to get through the crowds that thronged the streets and stores. That
might seem an exaggeration, but it is a fact. Everybody cam "uptown"
on Saturday night.

Woolworth had a "good location" in Fostoria. It was the
Botto Block one of the town's newer buildings, at North and Main. Older
Fostorians will remember the red sign, with the gold lettering "F.W.
Woolworth Co."...their standard identification. The one accompanying
photo shows a typical store entrance of those days, with their sign
and the scale, where you could weigh yourself for a penny.

Woolworth Co. had a year lease on the first floor of the
Botto Block when they started in Fostoria...they expected to stay in
business for a long time. But, initially they occupied only the north
half of the first floor. A partition separated the first floor, and
Zemer and Orwig Drug Store occupied the south room. As the business
grew locally, they removed the partition and occupied the entire first
floor.

FOSTORIANS REMEMBER LOCAL STORE

Older Fostorians will remember the variety of merchandise
that was displayed on the counters in the local store...for not more
than ten cents. There was a large candy counter, also ribbon, yarn,
greeting cards, crugs, notions, hardware, muslin, stationery, woodenware,
jewelry, records, paint, and much more. In fact, much of the same merchandise
of today's variety stores, but none of the appliances, rugs, furniture,
etc. And, merchandise was displayed by much less sophisticated methods...and
the prices much less.

The music department in some of the larger Woolworth stores,
where sheet music was sold, was popular, because they had a piano and
pianist, where songs of that era could be played for the customers to
stimulate sales. One of the accompanying photos shows a reconstructed
scene at a Woolworth reception in New York, commemorating their 100th
anniversary. Bee Walker, who pounded out tunes for customers in the
Woolworth store in the Indianapolis was discovered in New York recently
and invited to play some of the old songs...such as "I Cried For You",
"Toot Toot Tootsie" and "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue".

Those who especially remember the local store, the merchandise
etc., are those former employees still living. Some still reside here.
One of those is Dorothy (Kuhn) Vanderhoff, sho worked there starting
in the 1920's, and who helped assemble the following list:

Mrs. Vanderhodd said some of the old employees got together
a year ago to talk over "old times".

MANAGERS MAY BE REMEMBERED

When Mrs. Vanderhoff went to work for Woolworth, H.C.
Birch was manager, followed by M.D. Matthew. She worked after school
and on Saturday until she was out of school, at which time she left,
but returned to work in 1946 and stayed until 1955.

Helen (Fruth) Spooner also worked at the store, starting
in about 1922, and for a number of years. She clerked and also supplied
some of the names for the above list and the local photo. During her
employment she said a Mr. Morris was manager for a short time.

Robert Hiebet was manager of the Fostoria store when World
War II erupted in 1941. L.G. Wilsman followed in 1942. Then, during
the war period, when most mangers were drafted into service, some of
the more experienced clerks and floor walkers substituted as managers.
In Fostoria, Ruby Boon and Martha Eckert filled the manager slot until
William J. "Bill" Williams arrived in 1946 after getting out of the
army. He was previously at the Bellefontaine store. He stayed until
1950, and was succeeded by Ed Stikes, followed by W. C. Jewels in 1953,
and Charles Harr in 1955, after which time the store closed in 1956.

RATS PRODUCED FEAR AND LAUGH

Every situation has a comical story. One of those connected
with this story, and told by Dorothy Vanderhoff, was during the period
when Williams was manager.

"The stockroom in the basement had many big rats...and
needless to say the girls were continually frightened by them. At closing
time one day Audrey Watkins was in the basement, unbeknownst to Williams.
He started closing up and turned out the basement lights. Then he and
I heard a terrifying scream. It seemed to come from the basement. He
hurriedly turned on the lights and opened the basement door. Up dashed
Audrey, nearly frantic with fear. She had visions of being locked down
there for the night...with the rats and their eyes gleaming in the dark".